Fighter craft



Ju ly 25, 1944. 2,354,453

FIGHTER CRAFT Filed Nov. 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 25, 1944. n A'. GAZDA 2,354,453

' FIGHTER CRAFT Fiid Nbv. 19, 1941 2 Sheeis-Sheet 2 I against air attack, r D H A further objectof the invention i's'to design '10 which may be armedwith cannons, machine Patented July 25, 1944 UNITED;

Application November rionrnnzcnnrru U v An toinenGazda, I I

19, 1941, Serial No.

This invention'relates to a floating fighter craft which is designed'to carryout thesame functions upon water thatriesout in the air;

It is an object of the inventionto provide a construction capable'of' fighting off floating targets and at the same time capable of defending a speedy and highlymanoeuvra'blesmall craft guns; torpedoes or depth charges;- etc'.- =Also, in

order to defend against air attack thefighter craft'is preferably also'arm'ed with'anti'air'craft An object of the invention isto'provide a con struction which-will present only the smallest target when attacked, while at the same time carrying high offensive armamentj v A still further object of the invention is 'to construct a fightercraft -which"has a minimum water and air resistance and which-is "driven by means of air propellers of either the pusher or puller type. It is, therefore, superior to .the vessels driven by means of a water propeller and the invention utilizes considerably less engine power than craft in which a water propeller is used.

With the above and other objects in view which will become apparent from the detailed description below, the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a puller type of craft,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the form of the invention hown in Fig. 1,

Figure 3 is a plan view of a modified form of construction showing the invention applied'to a bi-motored craft,

Figure 4 is a side elevational View of the form of the invention shown in Fig, 3, and

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the craft shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, similar reference characters are used in the various views to indicate like parts.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the invention is shown as applied to a puller type of craft. It is understood, however, that the invention is just as applicable to t e pusher type of craft. I

The fuselage is shown at 5 and the propeller a fighter plane cartermed auxiliary wings. Theseauxiliary win'gs'j 1 are fitted near the center of gravity of the-enthe craft;

Extending downwardly'and secured to the wing 11 at'approximately the ends'furthest removed from the fus'el'age'are the'struts 8 which at their lower-ends are securedby any desired means to the floats or'boat hulls -9. F I

"A transverse brace lll is' positioned 'so as to lorace the lower end ofthe leading strut 8 against longitudinal strains. J

'Also secured-to the outer ends of the wings I are the longitudinally extending frame members II and a strut l2 interconnects the adjacent frame member with the rear of the float 9. The

frame I-members H are interconnected" at their rearward ends by an adjustable horizontal sta biliz'er" l 4 and pivotallyconnected to the stabilizer I4 is ahorizontal controllable elevator l5which is'under the'control of the crew. f I f Also mountedu'pon the frame members-l lare theverti'cal stabilizers 1'6 to'which are pivotally" secured the rudders Plunder-the control-of the-= crew. The floats 9 are also e'quippedwith rudders l8.

During slow speeds the craft will generally be controlled almost exclusively by the rudders l8 in the water, while under higher speeds, the

, craft will be mainly controlled by the rudders IT. The controls for the rudders are established so that the rudders II or the rudders 18 may be operated independently of one another or they may be operated in combination. This permits a high manoeuvrability of the craft.

The floats 9 are also provided with steps 19 as described in my companion application, Serial No. 334,446, filed May 10, 1940', and 'theyare preferablyof the nozzle type.

Mounted upon the fuselage is an antiaircraft gun 20 and a cannon 2|. Additional cannon and machine guns may be located in the wings I. Suspended below the fuselage 5 is a torpedo 22. In place of the torpedo, depth charges may be carried or they may be carried in addition to the torpedo. It is obvious that the particular armament used may be varied as desired.

The auxiliary wings I are of sufllcient size so as to increase the lift of the craft sufliciently so as to reduce the water and air resistance and thereby increase the speed of the craft;

In Figures 3, 4 and 5, the invention is shown as applied to a bi-motored craft. In this modification, floats or hulls are shown at 23, the auxiliary wings at 24 and at the ends of the wings the nacelles 25 are mounted for the engines driving The floats 23 are also provided'with rudders 33. In this modification, also, the guns, cannon and torpedo mountings are the same as in the previous construction. It is, of course, obvious that when cannon or machine guns are mounted in the wings I or 24 that the fire thereof. must. be properly correlated with the propellers. Of course, when the pusher type of construction is used, there will be no necessity for correlating the firing of these guns with the propellers. modification shown in Figures 3,4 and 5, braces 34 interconnect the'floats and the fuselage.

The high speed of the craft described aboveis dueto theconstruction outlined which permits a minimum water and air resistance. The step construction provided ;upon the floats, also, aids in decreasing both the water and air resistance.

In both modifications disclosed above, the control of therrudders as, used in the air andthe water may be individual or conjunctive.

The auxiliary wings I and 24 are suflicient to give a lift: to the craft but are not sufficient to take the craft into the air.

I claim:

1'. A fighter craft comprising a, fuselage, a power plant mounted in said fuselage, a propeller driven by said power plant, an auxiliarywing secured to each'side-of said fuselagea-t approximately the center of gravity of the craft, a float attached'to the outer end of each: of said auxiliary wings, longitudinally extending frame members also secured tothe outer ends of said wings, and lateral and horizontal control elements mounted upon said frame members.

In the 2. A fighter craft comprising a fuselage; means for supporting said fuselage consisting of an auxiliary wing attached to each side of the fuselage at approximately the center of gravity of the craft, float securing means dependingly attached to each said auxiliary wing at approximately the outer edge thereof, a float attached to each said securing means, and brace means extending intermediate said floats and fuselage; and at least one horizontal stabilizer.

3. A fighter craft comprising a fuselage; means for'su'pporting said fuselage consisting of an auxiliary wing attached to each side of the fuselage at approximately the center of gravity of the craft, float securing means dependingly attached to each said auxiliary Wing at approximately the outer edge thereof, a float attached to each said securing means, and brace means extending intermediate said floats and fuselage; and at least one fixed horizontal stabilizer.

' 4. A fighter craft comprising a fuselage; means for supporting said fuselage consisting of an auxiliary wing attached to each side of the fuselage at approximately the center of gravity of the craft, float securing means dependingly attached to each said auxiliary wing at approximately the outer edge thereof, a float attached to each said securing means, and brace means extending intermediate said floats and fuselage; and at least one adjustable horizontal stabilizer.

5; -A fighter craft comprising a fuselage; means for supporting said fuselage consisting of an aux-- iliary wing attached to each side of the fuselage at approximately the center of gravity of the 

